Automatic means for printing and embossing a continuous fabric web from selvedge to selvedge



3,065,730 A CONTINUOUS DGE Nov. 27, 1962 R. J. LYONS AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR PRINTING AND EMBOSSING FABRIC WEB FROM SELVEDGE TO SELVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 23, 1958 m M 3 W 7 PM a n/ 3 L fl JA 4 /M M Z q ATTORNEY R. J. LYONS Nov. 27, 1962 I 3,065,730 INUOUS AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR PRINTING AND EMBOSSING A CONT FABRIC WEB FROM SELVEDGE TO SELVEDGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2-3, 1958 AIR PUMP Lgcmb MOTOR Nov. 27, 1962 R. J. LYONS 3,065,730

AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR PRINTING AND EMBOSSING A CONTINUOUS FABRIC WEB FROM SELVEDGE TO SELVEDGE Filed July 25, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR Riduvui J.L

B I Pkg g x rToRNEY no edge traverse problem United States Filed July 23, 1958, Ser. No. 750,538 4 Claims. (Cl. 118-8) ,This invention relates to means for applying color to fabrics in the piece, that is, a bolt of woven or knitted cloth or other material in continuous length form, as for example, plastic sheet material, or sheeting, or paper in the form of a continuous roll, or otherwise.

More particularly, the invention relates to means for applying a deposit of color, such as printing, in the form of a predetermined design or otherwise at spaced intervals across the full width of a textile or other fabric of the character mentioned, such that a deposit of color or ink may be made on the cloth or other material transversely therof right out to the marginal portions or edges of the same.

. Customarily, in the application of color to cloth or other material in sheet form, it is the practice to unwind the same lengthwise from a bolt or roll of uuprocesed material, and then to run the unwound cloth in a lengthwise direction through the processing apparatus from the front or entrance end to the wind-up or exit station thereof. There are, of course, a variety of different motors or other means for unwinding such cloth at the entrance end of the apparatus from the roll, journal, or other shaft about which it is wound in preparation for the processing or application of color thereto.

To unwind the cloth about to be processed from its reel form into a continuous length is, of course, a simple matter and does not present any particular difficulty. The speed at which such cloth is unwound may be adequately determined and synchronized with the speed of processing in the apparatus range through which it travels after the cloth has been unwound. As an auxiliary means for such control a brake governor in the form of a pendant weight is often attached to the cloth reel being unwound.

Now if the wound-up cloth roll could be of perfectly uniform width from selvedge to selvedge, there would be involved in unwinding the fabric from its roll into open width form. However, it is practically and physically impossible, using present textile finishing equipment, to wind a roll of fabric of any great magnitude perfectly even from selvedge to selvedge. There are many reasons for this, all of which revolve around the fact that through the various preparatory finishing treatments, that is, continuous bleaching and mercerizing, dyeing and printing, and impregnation with finishing agents, the fabrics thus treated are subjected to continuous and non-uniform warpwise tensions which are applied thereto. This tends to make a final uniform width unattainable. Even assuming it were possible to wind up a roll of say from 1,000 to 2,000 yards perfectly uniformly from end to end, an additional problem would result in that the selvedges, being thicker in gauge than the remaining portions or intermediate parts of the fabric, would tend to grow larger in circumference than the body of the cloth, and would eventually lead to a concave roll with considerable selvedge damage from breakage due to extreme selvedge stretch.

In view of the circumstances thus described, it is quite generally, if not invariably, the case that after a roll of cloth is wound up its Width is non-uniform, as stated. Because this is so, when that cloth is unwound and fed into an embossing apparatus or inlay print machine of the type contemplated by the present invention, there is encountered an edge traverse problem, in that the unwinding cloth has selvedges on both sides which are Zigzag or nonuniform. In the field of application of color to cloth in open width form that has been unwound from a roll of cloth having uneven selvedges, as described, this widthwise variation or edge traverse at the selvedges of the cloth is indeed often a problem of some importance and dimension. Consider, for example, the field of application of color to the inlay portions of embossed fabrics. According to conventional practice, the cloth is simultaneously embossed and inlaid with color by means of a synchronized operation including means for passing the cloth to be embossed and inlaid through the nip formed by a male steel embossing roll in juxtaposition with a paper composition female roll. By this means the embossed or standout impressions in the cloth are obtained. Simultaneously there is applied to each of the inlay portions of the several embossments a deposit of color which is furnished thereto by a so-called three roll inking train which may be made up of a color pick-up roll rotating in a pan containing the coloring pigment or composition, an intermediate roll next to the pick-up roll, and finally, an applicator roll completing the three way train, the applicator roll being so positioned in relation to an adjacent, but previously mentioned, male steel embossing roll as to apply to the latter the pigmented coloring composition previously received from the intermediate roll. Thus, there operates in unison a system or assembly of integrated rollers whereby a moving length of cloth, passing therethrough, simultaneous-ly receives embossing, inlays, and an application or deposit of color to the latter.

Now it will be understood that in going through the roller assembly just described, the applicator roll furnishes the resin pigment or coloring composition to the portions of the male steel embossing roll that come in contact with the surface of the applicator roll as both rotate in unison. However, necessarily, both the applicator roll and the male embossing roll are of a fixed dimension widthwise and cannot be shifted laterally to compensate for variations in fabric width as the cloth travels therethrough. This being so, it was sometimes the prior practice to station a textile operator at the entrance end of the processing range immediately in back of the roll of cloth being unwound and fed into the roller assembly thereof. This operator was supplied with a relative large and heavy Sledgehammer, and it was his job to stand in back of the unwinding cloth roll and to observe it closely. As such operator at that station became aware of any substantial widthwise variation of the cloth, it was his duty to apply a blow of the sledgeharnrner to one side of the cloth roll so as to apply thereto a force thereby compensating for or neutralizing such variations in width. This, of course, was a rather crude means of correcting variances in fabric width, and on the whole was rather unsatisfactory, particularly because in some instances as by reason of previously applied tensions, it was found that such cloth being unwound would simultaneously narrow at both edges instead of merely at one side. That is to say, the fabric might widen at one selvedge and narrow at the other, and on other occasions widen or narrow at both selvedges. Under these latter conditions, stationing an operator at the scene and furnishing him with a Sledgehammer provided something less than an ideal solution to such problems of widthwise variation and edge traverse control.

An alternative method of handling the problem of edge traverse which is used by some finishers to overcome the variances in fabric width mentioned above, is to run paper under the fabric, the paper being wider than the widest part of the cloth. However, this creates a disagreeable and costly situation because the paper is bulky and requires baling for its disposition. Furthermore, paper costs may range from .3 cents to 1 cent per yard upwards, which results in considerable expense for the volume of fabric that ordinarily has to be processed.

One general object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide means for obtaining color application to the fabric across its entire width without allowing the color to travel wider or narrower than the fabric itself. Such a condition would be objectionable in the former case since it would allow color disposition to the edges of the steel embossing cylinder which would require constant cleaning and removal. In the latter case the fabric would be lacking a uniform color deposit widthwise across the fabric face.

A more particular object, therefore, of the present invention is to govern and control the widthwise application of color to cloth in an embossing inlay calender whereby color will be applied uniformly to such cloth across the full width thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for compensating for lateral variances in cloth being embossed, and simultaneously receiving a deposit of color in its inlay portions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide variable means for furnishing or applying a deposit of color to the steel embossing roll as the cloth being processed comes in contact therewith. A still further object is to provide means for decreasing and increasing the widthwise range of application of color to embossed piece goods.

A further object is to provide means for limiting or restricting the widthwise application of color to the intermediate roll of a three unit inking train, and further, to provide independent means on either side of the intermediate roll for varying the width of color transfer from the intermediate roll to the applicator roll in a three roll system of the character described.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means in an embossing inlay calender for limiting the application of color widthwise to a length of material being embossed and simultaneously receiving a deposit of color in its inlay portions, by means restricting the application of color to the marginal portions of the cloth, which means are responsive to edge traverse of the cloth as it travels through the calender range. A still further object is to provide independent means mounted on each side of the calender machine for limiting the application of color to the edges or marginal portions of the cloth as it travels through the machine, said means being responsive to, and synchronized with, widthwise variances of the selvedges or edge portions of the cloth.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be apparent, the present invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and/ or steps, all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the arrangement of rolls used in a typical textile calendering machine for simultaneously embossing and applying a deposit of color to the inlay portions of a textile or other fabric, said figure including a representation of the cloth roll, or source of supply thereof, and indicating the direction of travel thereof as it is unwound from its supply and thereafter runs through the nip formed by the male and female embossing rollers, and the subsequent passage of the cloth roll over a guide roll before it is wound up for storage or otherwise further processed. As will also be apparent, FIG. 1 schematically shows the arrangement of the three ring inking unit or train referred to above, comprising a pick-up roll which receives the initial deposit of color from a pan (not shown) .and which deposits the same on the rotating surface of the intermediate roll which, in turn, furnishes the deposit of color to the applicator roll which, in turn, passes on the coloring composition to the portions of the steel male embossing roller that are engraved or cut out, whereby the color is subsequently deposited in the valleys or inlay portions of the embossed cloth material;

FIG. 2 presents the application of the jet pipe principle to the present invention, whereby movement of a system of links is controlled by hydraulic cylinder means actuated by the jet pipe principle, the linkage means, in turn, governing and synchronizing simultaneous movement of means for applying color only to those portions of the intermediate inking roll which have the same widthwise dimension as the cloth roll being fed into the coloring application zone; which is to say, that by such means the coloring composition is applied to the intermediate roll only to a point widthwise thereof which will be in exact registration with the marginal portions or selvedges of the cloth as it travels through the calendering range; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the three roll inking unit comprising the pick-up roll, the intermediate roll, and the applicator roll, and including stop means on opposed sides of the intermediate roll at each side thereof for preventing the application of color at any point widthwise thereof beyond those portions in registration with the margins of the traveling cloth.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional View of the two sensing nozzles and of the moving cloth therebetween.

As previously mentioned, in carrying out one embodiment of the present invention, means are provided for governing the application of color so as to restrict the same only to certain widthwise dimensions of the intermediate inking roll. In carrying out such an embodiment a hydraulic cylinder may be fastened to each side of the calendering apparatus. Each hydraulic cylinder on both sides of the calender is constructed and arranged as by means of an articulated system of linkage, or links, to control bodily movement widthwise or in a widthwise direction of a relatively small doctor blade, as for example, one having an effective length of about 6 inches only. The same system of linkage or links is operatively connected on each side of the calender to a sensing nozzle which is adapted to move bodily in a horizontal plane in either direction to follow lateral variations in the marginal portions of a cloth that is being processed.

Each of the two selvedges of the fabric that is to be embossed and color inlaid is, in practice, threaded between an air flow orifice of the sensing nozzle with which each side of the calender is equipped. These sensing nozzles are adjustable laterally to accommodate various widths of fabric. Following such adjustment the fabric is threaded between the male and female nip of the calender rolls. Prior, during, and after this fabric threadup, the three roll inking unit referred to above is serviced with a coloring composition, for example, a resin bonded pigment dispersion that is to be applied to the fabric. The service unit may be a color pan located immediately below the first of the three roll inking unit that is below the pick-up roll, which may be mounted to rotate directly above the color pan in such wise that the outer periphery or surface of the pick-up roll actually moves through and rotates in the coloring pan whereby it receives a deposit of color and furnishes it to the intermediate roll with which the pick-up roll is in surface contact. This general arrangement of rollers is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings hereof.

As will be apparent by reference to FIG. 2, the intermediate roll, which is the central roll of the three roll color application train, may be serviced at its edges, according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the six inch doctor blades above mentioned, with one of such doctor blades on either side of the intermediate roll and in contact with the outer periphery thereof. The beveled edge of each doctor blade is forced against the periphery of this rubber intermediate roll by a screwtype mechanism of any suitable construction. The object of this blade is to remove all color from the edge of the,

intermediate roll to a point in exact or substantially exact juxtaposition to the fabric selvedge passing underneath.

In operation, following thread-up of the fabric through the sensing nozzles on either side thereof and the roller nip mentioned above, the six inch doctor blade and sensing nozzle, on each side of the calender, are adjusted and synchronized with respect to each other, the arrangement being such that the selvedge that is being scanned by the sensing head is in an exact physical relation to the calender nip as the inside edge of the doctor blade servicing the intermediate roll. That is to say, the doctor blade cleans from the intermediate roll all color in excess of the exact width of the fabric that is being processed. With this arrangement the color furnished to the intermediate roll is then transferred to the applicator roll in the same width, that is to say, in the exact width of the fabric that is traveling beneath the applicator roll on its way to the nip formed by the male and female embossing rolls, as seen in FIG. 1. By the same token, the color furnished to the intermediate roll is thus transferred to the applicator roll in the exact relative position as the fabric moving underneath. If the selvedge width of the fabric should travel in either direction widthwise, the sensing nozzle, the function of which is to maintain equilibrium in the pressure of air flow through its orifice, will move in the same direction as that in which the fabric selvedge is shifted laterally so as to maintain such equilibrium. This, in turn, through the linkage illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings hereof will force the doctor blade to travel in the same direction and continue to maintain the color-selvedge synchronization.

Each of the two linkage units on either side of the calender is constructed and arranged to operate independently of the other. With this arrangement it is possible for each doctor blade to move simultaneously in the same direction, or if widthwise traverse movement of the traveling cloth edges so dictates, in opposite directions. This is an important function and feature of the present invention because the fabric and its width may, at any time, widen at one selvedge while narrowing at the other, or may widen or narrow at both selvedges.

it is thus seen that by means of the present invention it is possible to maintain color application to the fabric across its entire Width, and without allowing the color to travel wider or narrower than the fabric. With such arrangement it is possible to avoid the prior art defects, for without it color disposition would be allowed all the way out beyond the fabric selvedges to the edges of the steel embossing cylinder. As a result, these edge portions of the embossing roll would have to be constantly cleaned and color removed. By the same means is avoid ed the restriction of color so that the cloth does not receive a coloring application across its entire width.

In short, by means of the present invention, notwithstanding lateral variances in the selvedge of the cloth at one or both of its sides as it travels through the embossing calender, means are provided for compensating for such widthwise variations with respect to the application of color to such cloth, whereby color may be applied over the entire width right out to the edges of the cloth uniformly and the ministrations of an operator wielding a Sledgehammer at periodic intervals become completely unnecessary. By the same means the alternative method of running paper under the cloth may be avoided.

The schematic arrangement of rollers shown in FIG. 1 is intended to illustrate or indicate the relative positions of the several components, according to one embodiment of the present invention, whereby a roll of cloth 24 or other material such as paper or plastic or the like is run through the nip 25 formed by a pair of embossing rollers, to wit, a steel male embossing member 26 and a female paper composition roll 27. By such means, namely, the coacting embossing rollers 26 and 27, the cloth being processed is embossed, which is to say, there is imparted thereto a surface texture comprising elevated spaced portions thereof lying in planes above the normal plane of the cloth surface. It will be understood, of course, that the remaining portions of the embossed cloth, that is, those which are not embossed or those which do not receive the embossrnent impressions, give the appearance of constituting spaced valleys, or valleys separated by several embossrnents in the cloth texture. So far as color application is concerned, according to the schematic arrangement of FIG. 1 a deposit of resin bonded pigment or other coloring composition may be applied to the inlay portions as by means of the engraved or cutaway portions of the steel male embossing roll 26. The color deposit is applied to these portions of the roll 26 by means of a three roll inking unit made up of the pick-up roll 23 which is constructed and arranged to rotate and to be partially immersed in a color pan (not shown) whereby it requires the coloring matter. Having thus acquired the same, the color is transferred to the intermediate roll 29 comprising the second unit in the three roll inking train. The function of the intermediate roll 2% is to receive the color deposit from the pick-up roll 28 and transfer the same to the rotating surface of the applicator roll 34? which, in turn, delivers the coloring deposit to the engraved or recessed portions of the steel embossing roll 26. As the several color containing portions on the periphery of the rotating embossing roll 26 come in contact with the cloth running through the nip of the rollers 2s 2-7, the coloring matter is then and there applied to the inlay portions of the embossed cloth 31.

After passing through the coloring station or nip 25 of the coacting rollers 25 and 27, the embossed and colored inlay cloth $1 may, for convenience, be run over any suitable guide roller or idler means 312 and subsequently taken to storage, or otherwise routed for further processing.

According to the present invention the problem of edge traverse or widthwise variations of the cloth 31 as it unwinds from the source of supply or reel 24 is met by altering the disposition or flow of coloring composition to the intermediate roll 29, which is to say, that as the width of the moving cloth 31 is altered on one side or the other side (or at both sides) during its passage through the embossing station 26-27, the surface of the intermediate roll 29 which receives the coloring composition is modified or altered to compensate for such widthwise variations of the cloth. By such means the band of color is adjusted by automatic decreases or increases in the width of said band compensating for corresponding widthwise variations on either side of the traveling cloth 31. In the same fashion, the applicator roll 30 receives from the intermediate roll 29 only so much of a color deposit, and only across so much of its width as will be sufficient, and only suflicient, to apply the coloring matter to the full width of the cloth 3231 as it travels through the embossing and color inlaying station 25. In short, as the width of the cloth 31 is altered, the widthwise application of coloring composition to the intermediate roll 29, and therefore to the applicator roll 30 as well, is modified accordingly to compensate therefor, and both of the intermediate and applicator rolls 293il are kept in widthwise registration and are linearly aligned at all times with the selvedges or marginal portions or edges of the moving cloth 31.

FIG. 2 illustrates suitable apparatus for applying the jet pipe principle to a textile calender, and for synchronizing transverse movement or movement in the horizontal plane of only one of a pair of doctor blades mounted on either side, that is, at either end of the intermediate roll 29, thereby varying the effective width of the color furnished by the intermediate roll 29 and keeping the same in transverse alignment and registration with the marginal portions of the moving fabric 31. It is to be understood that the assembly of FIG. 2 is substantially duplicated on both sides of the calendering machine to provide substantially identical but independent controls for each of the doctor blades, that is, on either side of the calender. i

As further shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus adapted to carry out one embodiment of the present invention may include an articulated system of links adapted to govern simultaneous movement in the same direction, on either side of the calender machine (not shown) of the relatively short doctor blade 32, the end of which is in surface contact with the outer periphery of the int rmediate roll 2?, and a sensing nozzle or feeler or finger 33 adapted to follow lateral or transverse variations in the selvedge or marginal portions of the moving cloth 31. The arrangement is such that by means of such linkage on each side of the calender, the doctor blade 32 and sensing nozzle 33 move in unison in the same direction and to the same extent or degree, thereby maintaining at all times an edgewise alignment or registration between the selvedges of the cloth 31 on each side thereof, and the edge portions of the intermediate roll 29 which receive a deposit of ink or coloring composition from the pickup roll 28 (which is not shown in FIG. 2). In other words, the short doctor blades 32 on each side of the calender apparatus or assembly function to block ofi or prevent the coloring composition from reaching so much of the end portions of the intermediate roll 29 as lie outside of, or beyond, the selvedges of the moving fabric 31 which is being printed withinlay color.

The present edge guide modification for selvedge inking therefore may comprise, in at least one embodiment thereof, a motor 34 mounted in any convenient place, for example, on the flooring, and constructed and arranged to actuate an air pump 35 for supplying air under pressure through a system of conduits 36, 3'7 and 38 to a diaphragm 39 forming one of the component parts of the jet pipe principle explained above.

By reference to the foregoing explanation of the jet pipe principle, it will be understood that so long as the force of the signal generated in the servo-mechanism 39 by means of the air main 36 remains constant, the air pressure flowing through the jet pipe 40 in FIG. 2 remains constant and is equally divided or applied to both air lines- 41 and 42 leading to the chambers 43 and 44 on opposed sides of the piston 45 operating in cylinder 46 which may be attached by any convenient means such as a bracket 47 or other fastener to a calen'dering machine, not shown. Because the air pressure in such case is constant, the system is in balance and the piston 45 remains idle and inactive.

If, however, the air pressure operating in the system from the air main 36 is altered, that is, decreased or increased, then, as will be understood, the system is unbalanced and the pipe 40 will be moved by the diaphragm member 39 so as to distribute the air flow unequally and more in the direction of the orifice of the connecting line '42, or conversely, more in the direction of the other connecting line 41, as the case may be, thereby moving and actuating the piston 45 to move in a horizontal direction within the air cylinder 46. According to the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, such movement of the piston 45- is communicated to the projecting piston rod 48 which actuates the system of articulated links there shown to simultaneously move the doctor blade 32 in a horizontal plane in the same direction, to the same extent, and in unison with transverse variations in the width of the cloth 31. This synchronization is obtained according to the present invention by providing the sensing air nozzle 33 with an orifice trained over the moving cloth 31 whereby edge traverse of the cloth 31 in either direction, widthwise or transversely, will effect a corresponding decrease or increase in the value or quantity of the air signal generated by the servo-mechanism 39, and effecting alteration ofthe arc defined by movement of the jet 'pipe'40.

The articulated linkage referredto above may comprise a long vertically disposed arm 49pivotally connected at its upper end 50 to the free end of the piston rod projection 48, and pivotally connected at its other end as by means of the pin 51 to a transverse or horizontal link 52, the latter being connected at its inner end as by means of a pin 53 to the doctor blade 32 previously mentioned. Means for pivotally mounting the long vertical arm 49 to one side of the calender (not shown) may comprise any suitable bracket 54 fixed as at 55 to one side of the calender.

in this arrangement of the horizontal arms 48 and 52 and the interconnecting long vertical arm 49, movement in the horizontal plane of the piston arm 48 is communicated to the doctor blade 32 in inverse relation: which is to sa as the piston 45 operating in cylinder 46 is actuated to further extend the projecting rod 48 of the piston 45 thereby moving the rod 43 to the right, as seen in PEG. 2, the intermediate linkage 49 communicates this motion in reverse to the horizontal arm 52, which means that that arm '52 moves in the opposite direction but also in the same horizontal plane, and carries with it as it thus moves the beveled doctor blade 32 which is attached to the horizontal link 52 as by means of an extension piece 56 which meets the horizontal link 52 at the pivoted point or pin 53.

As will be apparent by reference to FIG. 2, the long vertical arm or link 49 which controls lateral displacement or movement of the doctor blade 32 is connected as by a pin and slot arrangement to another long depending arm 57, the free end of which is connected to the sensing nozzle 33. The arrangement or connection between the two vertical arms 49 and 57 is such that both arms move in unison and in substantially the same direction and to the same extent under the actuating influence of the reciprocating piston rod 48. However, because of the pivotal connection of the upper vertical arm 49 to the mounting bracket 54, and because of the pivotal connection of the lower vertical arm 57 to the mounting bracket 58, the direction of movement of the doctor blade 32 and the sensing nozzle 33 is the same, but opposite to the direction of movement of the reciprocating piston rod 48. That is to say, if rod 48 under the influence of the hydraulic cylinder motion 43-44 moves to the right, as seen in FIG. 1, then the doctor blade 32 and sensing nozzle 33 will move correspondingly at the same time and to the same extent, but in the opposite direction or to the left, as seen in FIG. 2. By this means, the relative position of the doctor blade 32 follows that of the sensing nozzle 33, and as variations in the impact of the signal received from the sensing nozzle 33 are communicated to the air cylinder 45, the piston rod 48 is actuated correspondingly to move the upper arm 49 controlling the doctor blade 32* and simultaneously the lower arm 57 controlling the position of the sensing nozzle 33.

As seen in FIG. 2, the slot and pin arrangement referred to above between the upper arm 49 and lower arm 57 may comprise an extended freeway or slot 59 medially of the pivoted ends Sit-51 of the arm 49, and an upstanding dowel or pin 60 anchored or permanently fixed to the upper terminal portion of the lower arm 57 and projecting therefrom through the freeway slot 59 of the upper arm 49. With this arrangement, as described and as previously mentioned, motion of the upper arm 49 is transmitted to the lower arm 57 whereby both doctors blade 32 and sensing nozzle 33 are moved simultaneously and in the same direction. It also must be understood, of course, that the same arrangement prevails on the other side of the operating calender so that, in fact, instead of the illustration of FIG. 2, in operation, the assembly there shown as suitable for the left side, or one side of the calender, is actually duplicated on the other side, or the right-hand side, so that, in practice, there are two such assemblies, one being a substantial duplicate of the other. Because of this duplication, and for purposes of clarity, only one side of the illustrated in FIG. 2.

It must also be mentioned and understood, however, that even though the linkage illustrated in FIG. 2 is substantially duplicated on both sides of the calender machine, nevertheless each of the two linkage units operates independently of the other, so that even though they are substantially identical, each one is capable of operation, and in fact does operate completely independently. This being so, it is possible for the two doctor blades on the sides of the calender to move simultaneously in the same direction, or at the same time to move in opposite directions. This feature is a matter of some importance, for by this arrangement the fabric and its width may widen at one selvedge and narrow at the other, or widen, or narrow at both selvedges. And because the linkage units on both sides of the calender are independently actuated and operable, it is possible to maintain the desired color-selvedge synchronization on both sides of the cloth at all times.

Of course, the key or governing force for actuating the air cylinder 4e comes not from the linkage 4-8, 49, 52 and 56, but rather from the sensing nozzle 33 and the orifice therein 12, 13 whereby widthwise variation of the moving cloth 3'1 alters the amount of air passing through the air system conduits 36, 37 and 38, thereby modifying the signal generated by the diaphragm C9, and thus invoking the application of the jet pipe principle explained above. That is to say, as the width of moving cloth 31 changes, the predetermined value or quantity of air supplied to the diaphragm 3% is correspondingly altered thereby: for if the cloth edge 3?. moves to the right, as seen in FIG. 2, a greater quantity of air will pass through the conduits 36, '57 and 33 to the diaphragm 39. On the other hand, if the cloth edge '31 moves to the left, this will choke off a certain quantity of the predetermined amount of air passing through the conduits 36, 37 and 3d, and therefore the diaphragm 39 will be actuated to decrease the value of the signal imparted to the jet pipe ll thereby altering its position so as to communicate greater flow of air to the air line 411, and decrease the flow of air to the air line 42. As a result of this change the air piston 45 is actuated to move to the right, thereby moving the doctor blade 32 correspondingly to the same extent, but in the opposite direction, namely, to the left and in the same direction and to the same extent that the cloth width has been altered.

Conversely, if fabric Width variations cause the cloth edge 31 to move to the right instead of to the left, then instead of choking off the air supply or portion thereof supplied to the conduits 36, 37 and 38, the value or quantity thereof is correspondingly increased so that a signal having a greater value is supplied as by means of the diaphragm 39 to the jet pipe 40, which is thereby actuated to move in the opposite direction and increase the flow of air therefrom which is supplied to the air line 42, and correspondingly decrease the quantity of air supplied to the line 41 of the hydraulic cylinder 46. As a result of this reverse modification or alteration in the signal generated, the servo-mechanism is actuated to move the piston 45 in the opposite direction or to the left, as seen in FIG. 2. As it does so, the doctor blade 32 is moved in the opposite direction or to the right by reason of the linkage 48, 49 and 52: so that the doctor blade 32 thereby moves in the same direction, in unison with and to the same extent as that of the shifting selvedge cloth.

Thus, according to the present invention, means are provided for adjusting the color band of the inking or intermediate roll 29 in registration with a varying or variable cloth selvedge width, such means comprising a doctor blade 32 constructed and arranged to block off so much of the end portion of the intermediate roll 29 as lies outside or beyond the selvedge of the moving cloth 3i, and an articulated linkage 43, 49 and 52 controlling width- Wise movement of the color block or doctor blade 32, said present control assembly is linkage itself being governed and actuated by a servomechanism under the control of a sensing nozzle or member 33 which is responsive to lateral displacement of the selvedge of the cloth 31 so as to communicate widthwise variations in the selvedge of the cloth 31 to the servomechanism governing lateral movement of the doctor blade 32 to the same extent, at the same time, and in the same direction as that of the moving cloth 31 being processed.

To visually indicate how requisite portions of the intermediate roll 2% are blocked off by means of the doctor blades 32 set thereagainst on either side thereof, attention is called to FIG. 3. The contents 60 of the coloring pan 61 are picked up by, or applied all over the surface of the pick-up roll 28, the periphery of which rotates in the color pan 61. The vertical dotted line portions shown on opposed sides of the pick-up roll 2% and the coloring pan 61 are intended merely to indicate that the roll of cloth 3i entering the calendering machine passes underneath the color pan 6]. and the pick-up roll 28. For a more complete visualization of the path of travel of the moving cloth 31, and specifically how the cloth 3!. first enters the calendering zone proper at the nip 25 of the two embossing rolls 26 and 27, reference may be had to FIG. 1 and the schematic side view arrangement there seen.

One of the prime purposes of FIG. 3 is to illustrate the doctor blade blocks 32 and the relation thereof to the outer portions of the intermediate roll 29 whereby the coloring composition 6% picked up from the color pan 61 by means of the rotating pick-up roll 28 is prevented from reaching those outer portions of the intermediate roll 29 which are not in registration or alignment with the side edges or selvedges of the cloth 311 being processed.

Referring further to FIG. 3, and as there shown, after the pick-up roll 2% acquires the surface deposit of coloring composition 60 from the color pan 61, this coloring deposit is transferred to the intermediate roll 29 which is immediately above the pick-up roll 23 or forward thereof, the rotating outer peripheries of both rolls 29 and 28 being in surface contact with each other. By reason of the spaced doctor blades 32 at both sides of the intermediate roll 29, the coloring composition 6B is blocked off from part of the side portions of the intermediate roll 29 and therefore does not reach the corresponding portions of the applicator roll 3%).

As previously stated, FIG. 4 presents a cross sectional view of the two sensing nozzles with the cloth moving therebetween. With the arrangement shown, the jet 4% of PEG. 2 may be supplied with compressed air signals. As indicated, air under pressure is supplied on either side of the assembly through a piping arrangement 19 to an intermediate chamber 11 where it passes through interconnecting channels 12, 13 in the direction of the arrows. From the upper channel 13 the compressed air signal passes through the conduit 14 to the regulator diaphragm 39 of FEG. 2. As will be apparent, any lateral movement of either side edge of the cloth 31 as its edges pass through the sensing nozzles 33 correspondingly alters the volume of compressed air supplied to the jet 48 by decreasing or increasing the strength of the compressed air signal.

Although the present invention, as set forth above, has been applied specifically to an apparatus or machine for simultaneously embossing and inlaying with color a fabric that passes therethrough, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto, but may be applied to other fields of fabric processing. For example, wherever it is desired to have a uniform application of color, i.e. in dyeing or printing a length of cloth subject to widthwise variations or edge traverse, the principles of the present invention may be utilized.

It will be equally apparent that the doctor blade may be varied in size, in shape, and in material. As a matter of fact, it is perfectly feasible to mount the doctor blades or corresponding members not on an intermediate roll in a three roll inking unit, but on the applicator roll or any other convenient roll, it being suflicient that some means are supplied for preventing application of color to those portions of the inking train which lie beyond the edges of the fabric traveling thereover. By the same token, the position of the sensing nozzles, and the size, design, and material thereof may also be varied, and the position that they occupy with respect to the calendering assembly may also be modified as desired. It is not essential that air be used to generate the signal actuating the servo-mechanism, and other fluids such as oil may be used. If so desired, an electronic assembly featuring electric eyes as the signal generator may be substituted for the air signalling system of the present device. So, too, the diaphragm is not critical in the present invention, and any other conventional device may be substituted in place thereof for varying the impact of the signal generated the fluid and thus actuating the hydraulic cylinders. It is also possible to dispense with the present assembly on one side of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3, and to use instead merely one combination of the sensing nozzle and coacting doctor blade on one side only of the moving cloth.

In the light of the foregoing, the following is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination in an edge guide assembly for fabric selvedge printing, of means for passing the fabric in open width form through the nip of a pair of coacting embossing and color inlaying rolls for simultaneously imparting to the fabric an embossed surface texture and color printed inlays, means for supplying color to the cut-out portions of the embossing roll before the fabric passes through the nip of the embossing and color inlaying rolls, and means responsive to variations in the width of the moving fabric as it passes through said assembly for uniformly printing said inlays across the full width of the fabric and only to the selvedge edges on both sides thereof.

2. The combination in an edge guide assembly for fabric selvedge printing, of means for simultaneously embossing and printing an open width fabric, said printing means comprising a print roll for depositing color on the fabric while the fabric is held in open width form, an applicator roll mounted in front of and parallel to the print roll for furnishing color to the print roll, a supply roll mounted in front of the applicator roll for supplying said color to the applicator roll, and means responsive to variations in the width of the cloth as it moves through said assembly for limiting the widthwise application of color to the fabric to the selvedge edge on each side of said fabric.

3. The combination in an edge guide assembly for fabric selvedge printing, of means for simultaneously embossing and printing an open width fabric, said printing means comprising a print roll for depositing color on the fabric while the fabric is held in open width form,

an applicator roll mounted infront of and parallel to the print roll for furnishing color to the print roll, a supply roll mounted .in ffIOIll'JOf the applicator roll for supplying said color to the'applicator roll, and movable doctor blade means responsive to variations in the width of the cloth as it moves through said assembly for limiting the widthwise application of color to the fabric to the selvege edge on each side of said fabric.

4. The conbination in an edge guide assembly for fabric selvedge printing, of means for simultaneously embcssing an open width fabric and printing inlay portions of the same fabric, said means comprising a pair of coacting male and female embossing rolls, the male embossing roll including cutaway surface portions for receiving color therein and depositing it therfrom on the inlay portions of the fabric while the remainder of the fabric is being embossed, an applicator roll mounted out of contact with said fabric and in front of and parallel to the male embossing roll for furnishing the color to the cutaway surface portions of said male embossing roll, an intermediate roll in front and in surface contact with the applicator roll for transferring the color to the applicator roll before said color is furnished to the male embossing roll, a color pick-up roll in front of and parallel to the intermediate roll and in communication with a color box for removing the color from the box and applying said color to the surface of the intermediate roll, a pair of spaced laterally movable doctor blades constructed and arranged to bear against the outer end portions of the intermediate roll thereby preventing transfer of the color only at said outer end portions from the pick-up roll to said applicator roll, a pair of laterally movable sensing nozzles mounted at either edge of the fabric in advance of the intermediate roll for detecting and signalling widthwise variations of the moving fabric as it approaches the embossing rolls, and an articulated linkage connecting the movable sensing nozzles and the movable doctor blades and constructed and arranged simultaneously to move said blades and said nozzle in the same lateral direction and to the same extent thereby restricting the widthwise application of color to the selvcdges of the fabric in response to the signals generated in the sensing nozzles by widthwise variations of the moving fabric.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 428,363 Arkell May 20, 1890 11,170,383 Wood Feb. 1, 1916 2,438,787 Nicholas Mar. 30, 1948 2,702,522 Speed et a1. Feb. 22, 1955 2,752,881 Feindel July 3, 1956 2,858,232 Hushebeck et a1. Oct. 28, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATEv OF CORRECTION Patent N0o 2Q065fl30 November 27 1962 Richard Jo Lyons It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l "line 26 for "'unprocesed" read unprocessed -"-=;I'co'lumn 4 line Blyfor "a" readsan column-8, line 65-,- for""'d'o'ctors"" read doctor column 12,, line 15 for Signedand sealed this 25th day of June 1963.

(SEAL) Attest:

DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents lil il lis'l W. SWIDER Attesting Officer 

